Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Meltdown

As Donald Trump begins a closely-watched visit to Scotland — home to several of his luxury golf resorts and his mother’s birthplace — fresh revelations about his name appearing in the so-called Epstein Files are triggering alarm within his MAGA support base back in the U.S. On this edition of Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty is joined by Dr Clodagh Harrington, American politics lecturer at University College Cork and host of the Chicken in Every Pot podcast, along with Glasgow-based writer and documentary producer Paddy Duffy. Together, they take a dive deep into the explosive reports published in the Wall Street Journal and aired by CNN that link Trump’s name directly to the so-called Epstein Files. The podcast explores why this story is reigniting long-standing questions about Trump’s past associations with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and how the issue is landing with the MAGA faithful — a movement already showing signs of internal division. They also unpack the strategic response from figures inside Trump’s administration, examining efforts to manage public perception and media focus amid rising scrutiny. Paddy offers insight from Scotland on the local reaction to Trump's visit and reflects on the broader implications for Trump’s image internationally and his lasting legacy at home. 🔗 To hear more from Dr Clodagh Harrington, follow her on X @Dr_Clodagh where she shares her latest analysis and podcast episodes. 📧 Have something to say about this podcast? Get in touch at [email protected] — we welcome your thoughts.